Group gathers to protest arrests of shop owners selling CBD

A heavy downpour fell on a group gathered at the Rutherford County Judicial Building Friday in support of shop owners accused of selling CBD oil, a nonpsychoactive product often used to help treat pain. Holding water-logged signs are, from left, Julia Beasley, Luke Sabin, Christian Powers, Logal Weaver and Tyler Bailey.(Photo: Nancy De Gennaro/DNJ)Buy Photo

“The fact that we’re closing down vape shops for something that is 100 percent legal just doesn’t make sense to me,” said protestor Logan Weaver, an MTSU student who has been vaping with CBD for four years. Weaver said it helps relieve pain from inflammatory ailments.

On Monday, law enforcement officers padlocked 23 Rutherford County businesses selling CBD, and authorities indicted 21 people in the investigation law enforcement officials named "Operation Candy Crush," according to a news release from the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office.

CBD is extracted from the legally grown hemp plant. It can be made into an oil that is often used to relieve pain.

Reach reporter Nancy De Gennaro at 615-278-5148 or degennaro@dnj.com, and follow her on Twitter @NanDeGennaro.

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Standing in a downpour are protesting the arrest of shop owners accused of selling CBD oil are, from left, Julia Beasley, Luke Sabin, Logan Weaver and Tyler Bailey. All four use CBD oil in their electronic cigarettes to help relieve pain from a variety of health issues.(Photo: Nancy De Gennaro/DNJ)